England’s captain Ben Stokes has defended his team’s preparations for the Ashes, insisting that the squad is fully ready for the upcoming series despite criticism from former players who questioned their limited warm-up schedule in Australia.
England will play a three-day warm-up match against an England Lions team starting Thursday in Perth, ahead of the first Test at Optus Stadium on 21 November. The build-up to this tour mirrors England’s preparations for their previous five overseas tours under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, where they won the first Test of each series.
However, this tour differs from many past Ashes tours, where England typically played several warm-up games before the series began. “The next three days is ‘balls to the wall’ for everyone, no easing into it,” Stokes told BBC Sport. “Everyone has been preparing for this series for a long time, so by the 21st, we will be good.”
In his first media appearance since recovering from a shoulder injury, Stokes discussed various topics, including:
Criticism of England’s warm-up plans
His fitness to play a full role as an all-rounder in the first Test
Endorsement of Ollie Pope as England’s No. 3
Joking about the “unbelievable journalism” of his arrival coverage in Perth
England held a limited training session at Lilac Hill on Wednesday, with the batters and spinners attending, while the pace bowlers rested after an intense workout the day before. The team has not confirmed the XI for the warm-up game, but all 16 members of the Ashes squad will be involved, with the five not playing in the XI joining the Lions.
Previous Ashes tours typically included at least three warm-up matches, but the 2021-22 tour was notably shortened due to Covid restrictions. There are a variety of reasons for England’s limited preparation this time around, including the packed schedule after their recent white-ball series in New Zealand.
Criticism has come from former captains Sir Ian Botham, Michael Vaughan, and Graham Gooch, who have expressed concerns about the team’s approach. Botham labelled it “borderline arrogance,” Vaughan called it a “huge risk,” and Gooch described it as “glorified practice.”
Stokes responded by saying, “Cricket has changed so much. Preparation is nowhere near as simple as it used to be. We’re very comfortable with how we prepare because we leave no stone unturned.”
The 34-year-old has not played since being ruled out of England’s final Test against India in the summer, but he has been bowling at full pace in training for the last two months. He is confident in his fitness for the series, saying, “I’ve been making sure I’m fit and strong.”
With Australia captain Pat Cummins missing the first Test due to a back injury, Stokes’ leadership could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the series. Stokes also confirmed Ollie Pope’s role at No. 3 and the decision to appoint Harry Brook as vice-captain.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming Ashes series, Stokes brushed off media reports, including front-page coverage of his arrival in Perth. “It’s unbelievable journalism to get that much information out of a bloke pushing a suitcase through an airport,” he joked.
Stokes added, “It’s expected. That’s part of being in Australia. We’ll take it in our stride and laugh it off. It hasn’t affected us so far.”